Double trouble for De Niro

As Robert De Niro's stunt double, he got to do all the dangerous scenes that were considered too risky for the star. But, when the cameras stopped rolling, his work came to an end and he went home as plain Joe Manuella.

That, at least, was the theory. It turns out, however, that 51-year-old former fireman Manuella was in the habit of taking his work home with him. He has been arrested for impersonating the actor to bed women, get free meals and raise money for a phoney movie.

Manuella, who doubled for De Niro in The Fan and Great Expectations, allegedly had a Visa card under the name "Robert De Niro", and was in the habit of passing around 8x10 glossies of himself signed with the actor's name.

He even used his uncanny resemblance to the actor to party at a bar and go home with a beautiful fan who thought she was sleeping with the actor.

Manuella was eventually charged with criminal impersonation after a sting operation by the actor and his lawyer.

De Niro's lawyer Tom Harvey said: "Manuella used his status as De Niro to get the local people to lend him props and get free or discounted meals and lodging."

Mr Harvey set up a trap by hiring Manuella to appear as a De Niro lookalike - but instead had a car waiting to deliver him to the police.

Manuella's alleged act began to unravel on July, 1999, when De Niro, 57, complained about a New York newspaper story that claimed he drank at a Hampton's tavern and then left with a woman, with whom he spent the night. It was actually Manuella. Mr Harvey said: "The woman helped us expose Manuella."